Today we had the privilege to host a number of youth directors on our campus at Crown College.  In the luncheon we discussed plans to begin a new youth fellowship for East Tennessee, the Smoky Mountain Youth Fellowship.  I am excited about the possibilities and encouraged to know so many youth workers with a heart to reach and teach Teens for Christ.

We shared with these fine people a number of resources that have been designed to help youth workers in local churches.  I wanted to share them with you.  Take advantage of all that you can and feel free to share them with others.  We don’t have all of the answers.  (The longer I work with teens the more questions I have!)  Yet Pastor Sexton and all of us who help him sincerely desire to encourage and equip as many people as possible who are trying to make a difference in this generation.

I would be happy to hear from you with questions or ideas…

Teens For Christ International

“And of some have compassion, making a difference.”  Jude 22

It is no accident that young people live in this present hour; this is the time God chose for teenagers.  Young Christians have a heavenly assignment.  God knew when they would be alive and when they would have the opportunity to serve Him.  He knew when and how teenagers would be equipped to do the things He has for them to do.  All of this is in God’s plan for their lives.  Teenagers can “make a world of difference.”

• TeensForChristInternational.com

This website has been designed to provide resources for parents, youth workers, and teenagers.  Resources include helpful Bible messages, good music, devotional guides, training materials, recommended reading lists, and a directory of Bible colleges and Christian camps.

• Youth Congress

America’s Christian Youth Congress convenes each year the week following July 4^th on the campus of Crown College in Knoxville, Tennessee.   The Congress is a gathering of representative young people and youth leaders from across the country.  Pre-Congress activities are planned for youth groups to enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains on Monday-Wednesday.  The Congress begins on Wednesday night and continues through Friday night.

Day sessions are designed to teach young people on a variety of issues related to serving the Lord in this generation.  Special training and encouragement is provided for youth workers in the School of Youth Ministries each day.  Evening services feature powerful preaching and a 200-voice Youth Congress choir.  Friday night concludes with a patriotic rally and fireworks display by world-famous PyroShows.

Regional Youth Congresses are also conducted throughout the year in different regions of the country.  Visit youthcongress.us for more information.

• Crown Christian Publications

Crown Christian Publications offers audio and video lectures for youth workers on every facet of youth ministry.  Several Bible message series to teenagers are also available. The Solid Answer booklet series addresses issues that young people face answered from the Word of God.  Christian Life Journals, chorus books, and over 40 different Sunday School series are also available to help young people and those who work with them.

Visit CrownChristianPublications.com or call 1.877.AT CROWN.

• Teens for Christ School Bible Clubs

Teens for Christ is a well established program for student Bible clubs on school campuses.  Young people gather for Bible study and prayer, and are equipped to reach and teach their friends for Christ.  Teens for Christ clubs are being established in every region of the U.S.  A notebook is available detailing how to start and conduct Teens for Christ clubs.  Duplicable teacher and student lessons are also provided.

Call Tony Sengmany at 865.938.8186, extension 229 for more information.

• Summer Camps

Youth groups may choose from two exciting camps: Mount Moriah Christian Camp in Powell, Tennessee or Lake Texoma Baptist Youth Camp in Pottsboro, Texas.  A full camp season is planned in both locations.  Each week consists of exciting adventures and strong Bible preaching designed to help local churches and encourage young people to “take the high road.”

Visit mountmoriahcamp.com or call Roger Hilliard at 865.938.8182, extension 287.

Visit laketexomabaptistyouthcamp.com or call Dan Knickerbocker at 817.367.0455.

• Baptist Friends

The annual meeting of Independent Baptist Friends International is a weeklong conference held in April.  This gathering of likeminded Christian workers is built upon the principles of: truth, friendship, and world evangelism.  A special series of youth rallies is held for young people in conjunction with the conference.  Youth workers have training sessions each day conducted by leading youth ministers across the country.  This meeting provides something for the entire family and wonderful fellowship with friends.

Visit BaptistFriends.org for more information.

• Crown Education

The Crown College and Seminary provide online course offerings for both young people and youth workers.  The “Early Advantage” program allows juniors and seniors in high school to take Bible classes in the Foundations for Christian Life program.  Youth workers may pursue a Master of Ministry degree online.  Specific classes in youth ministry are now being offered for credit or audit.

Call 1.877.MY CROWN or visit thecrowncollege.com/online.

Follow Teens for Christ on Twitter: @TFC_Intl for additional resources.